Earth and Planetary Sciences

Earth and planetary sciences is a discipline that asks the biggest questions about the planet we live on and the solar system it inhabits. It encompasses the study of the Earth's interior structure and dynamics, the processes that shape its surface, the history of life preserved in the rock record, the composition of other planets and bodies in the solar system, and the conditions that make a planet habitable. It draws on physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics to investigate how planetary bodies form, evolve, and sustain the conditions for geological and biological activity.

At the University of Manchester, this three-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year, making it a four-year degree in total. The foundation year is designed to build the mathematical and scientific foundations needed before the main degree begins, providing an accessible route into a rigorous and demanding discipline at one of the UK's leading research universities. Manchester has particular strengths in geochemistry and planetary science, with researchers working on meteorites, isotope systems, and the deep Earth.

Once in the core programme, you will study mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, geophysics, palaeontology, geochemistry, and the comparative planetology of other bodies in the solar system. Laboratory work, fieldwork, and computational methods are all central to the programme. A typical entry tariff of 152 UCAS points reflects the scientific standard expected for the main degree.

Earth and planetary sciences develops rigorous quantitative thinking alongside careful field observation and the ability to reason about processes that operate over timescales and at scales beyond everyday experience.

Graduates work in the oil and gas industry, mining, environmental consultancy, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, academic research, and planetary science. Many proceed to postgraduate study or research in geology, geochemistry, or planetary science. The combination of field, laboratory, and computational skills is valued across a wide range of scientific and technical employers.